His Ex Called and He Ran, His Rival Called and I Ran Straight to Him Chapter 10

His Ex Called and He Ran, His Rival Called and I Ran Straight to Him Chapter 10

I froze.

For one absurd second, I almost reached across the table to check his forehead.

“Mr. Ross, are you running a fever?”

Unless I had misunderstood him, that had sounded like a confession.

I had to admit that Ethan was handsome.

He was more charismatic than Felix, more principled, and far easier to respect.

There were probably twice as many women interested in Ethan as there had ever been in Felix.

But I had worked with him for less than two months.

How could we already be acting out a billionaire-falls-for-his-executive fantasy?

Unless there was still something he wanted from me.

Ethan watched my expression grow increasingly suspicious.

Then he laughed.

“Relax.”

“Ross Group is a legitimate company.”

“I’m not trying to recruit you into some secret operation.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“I simply realized that Felix has terrible judgment in most areas but excellent taste in women.”

“His ex-girlfriend is difficult not to notice.”

That settled it.

He was definitely flirting.

Which was somehow even more alarming.

While I was busy earning more money than I ever had at Ross Group, Felix began appearing

everywhere.

First came flower deliveries and expensive takeout.

Then he waited outside my office every evening.

When I ignored him, he started waiting outside my condo.

I had never imagined that someone as proud as Felix could reduce himself to standing on a sidewalk for hours, hoping I would look at him.

He grew thinner.

Dark circles settled beneath his eyes.

Carter Group’s share price continued to fall.

Tanya had no idea how to manage my former department.

She made careless decisions, mishandled negotiations, and offended several long-term clients I had spent years building relationships with.

By the time Felix understood how much damage had been done, it was too late.

One evening, he stopped me outside the Ross Group building.

His voice was hoarse.

“Olivia, come back.”

“Please help me.”

I said nothing.

I opened my phone and showed him my latest pay statement.

It was more than three times what Carter Group had paid me.

No rational person would return.

But Felix still believed emotion could accomplish what money and respect could not.

“I know I was wrong,” he said.

“Tanya was your best friend, and I thought treating her well would make you happy.”

“I didn’t understand how far I had crossed the line.”

“I hurt you.”

“I understand now.”

“I’ll make our relationship public.”

“I’ll marry you.”

“Just come back.”

Some lessons never sink in until consequences teach them.

Now that Tanya had failed in my position and could not save his company, Felix had suddenly

remembered my value.

Unfortunately for him, he had remembered too late.

Far too late.

He had taken my love for granted and used it as permission to do whatever he wanted.

There had been so many moments when he could have chosen me.

If he had done it even once-just once-the lovesick version of me might have stayed and forgiven

everything.

But he never did.

Not once.

That love was gone.

The Olivia who had built her life around Felix Carter no longer existed.

I smiled, pulled out my phone, and called building security.

As the guards escorted him away, I gave him one final sentence.

“A good ex knows when to stay gone.”

The last hope disappeared from his eyes.

I never saw Felix again.

Later, I heard that he uncovered financial misconduct connected to Tanya and turned the evidence

over to investigators.

She was eventually convicted in a major fraud case and received a ten-year sentence.

Felix managed to keep Carter Group alive for a while, but it never recovered its former position.

Ethan recognized the opening and moved aggressively into its market.

Eventually, Felix relocated overseas in an attempt to rebuild what remained.

A former colleague later told me the company had collapsed anyway.

Eight years later, I was getting a manicure with a friend when my phone buzzed.

Ethan had sent a message.

[The baby is asleep.]

[Happy anniversary. I booked our table for tonight.]

[I’m waiting for you.]

I smiled and typed back.

[On my way.]